03-15-2005, 10:05 AM
OK, I'm only 3 months late writting this review... forgive me, I just found this forum yesterday!
The concert was my 5th Hip show, and quite honestly I'd rate it as being #4 on my extremely short list of Hip experiences... excellent show, just not stellar. My thoughts on the setlist after the show were "it was safe.", not words I wanted to use but that's what I was feeling. With bands like the Hip, who have such a large catalogue(sp?) to draw from, it's hard not to leave a show disappointed because they didn't play what you wanted them to play... and that's selfish thinking I know. They really didn't play much off of In Violet light (one of my favorite albums of theirs), maybe one song, which I thought was dissappointing considering it was released only 3 years ago... I mean, where was 'Dire Wolf', 'Dark Cannuck', 'Use it Up'?
Ok, enough about my personal disappointments... the place was packed, the crowd was real loud, everyone in attendance had a GREAT time, including the 18yr old kid who got leveled by a security guard after jumpimg over the boards onto the floor. As he was being dragged away he was still singing along to Blow at High Dough!
The opening band, 'the Joel PLaskett Emergency' were great. I've seen these guys more times than I've seen the Hip, and they always put on a great show. Like most bands, they sound better in a club, but Joel really engaged(sp?) the audience, and by the end of it alot people were grooving to the Emergency.
The way the Hip walked on stage was real cool, 'the shadows behind the silk screen' effect was real nice, it realy added to the build up of the band walking on-stage ready to kick everyones ass in attendance. The guys were real tight, tightest I've ever heard them, with Gord S holding down the bass-end, Johnny givin'er on drums, Rob B laying down some sweet peddle steal guitar on 'Vaccination Scar', Paul's backing vocals were the best I've ever heard, and Gord was his usual stellar self. His boxing match with the mic stand during Fully Completely was a real sight.
They performed the new songs really well, and the images projected onto the screens behind the band fit perfectly, the best being the young girls eyes during 'Are we Family'.
Personal favorites of the evening were 'Fully Completely', 'Gus...', 'It can't be Nashville', 'are we family', and 'Long Time Running'.
All this to say it was a great show, just not stellar. I've really gotta head south and see these guys in a small club/theatre, the Arena shows are great, but not intimate enough. I think seeing Gord and the Country of Miracles a few summers back in Ottawa really spoiled me, there was a good sized crowd, but there was plenty of room to move, we were 10 feet from the stage and the band played like they were performing to 5 people, really intimate.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers
Doc
The concert was my 5th Hip show, and quite honestly I'd rate it as being #4 on my extremely short list of Hip experiences... excellent show, just not stellar. My thoughts on the setlist after the show were "it was safe.", not words I wanted to use but that's what I was feeling. With bands like the Hip, who have such a large catalogue(sp?) to draw from, it's hard not to leave a show disappointed because they didn't play what you wanted them to play... and that's selfish thinking I know. They really didn't play much off of In Violet light (one of my favorite albums of theirs), maybe one song, which I thought was dissappointing considering it was released only 3 years ago... I mean, where was 'Dire Wolf', 'Dark Cannuck', 'Use it Up'?
Ok, enough about my personal disappointments... the place was packed, the crowd was real loud, everyone in attendance had a GREAT time, including the 18yr old kid who got leveled by a security guard after jumpimg over the boards onto the floor. As he was being dragged away he was still singing along to Blow at High Dough!
The opening band, 'the Joel PLaskett Emergency' were great. I've seen these guys more times than I've seen the Hip, and they always put on a great show. Like most bands, they sound better in a club, but Joel really engaged(sp?) the audience, and by the end of it alot people were grooving to the Emergency.
The way the Hip walked on stage was real cool, 'the shadows behind the silk screen' effect was real nice, it realy added to the build up of the band walking on-stage ready to kick everyones ass in attendance. The guys were real tight, tightest I've ever heard them, with Gord S holding down the bass-end, Johnny givin'er on drums, Rob B laying down some sweet peddle steal guitar on 'Vaccination Scar', Paul's backing vocals were the best I've ever heard, and Gord was his usual stellar self. His boxing match with the mic stand during Fully Completely was a real sight.
They performed the new songs really well, and the images projected onto the screens behind the band fit perfectly, the best being the young girls eyes during 'Are we Family'.
Personal favorites of the evening were 'Fully Completely', 'Gus...', 'It can't be Nashville', 'are we family', and 'Long Time Running'.
All this to say it was a great show, just not stellar. I've really gotta head south and see these guys in a small club/theatre, the Arena shows are great, but not intimate enough. I think seeing Gord and the Country of Miracles a few summers back in Ottawa really spoiled me, there was a good sized crowd, but there was plenty of room to move, we were 10 feet from the stage and the band played like they were performing to 5 people, really intimate.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers
Doc